Chief Financial Officer

Organization Overview:

Tostan is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Dakar, Senegal and currently operating in six West African countries. Strategically, the organization is committed to continuing to develop its core competency of empowering education and to documenting and scaling the sustainable impact it creates across a range of issues. Tostan’s flagship model, the 3-Year Community Empowerment Program (CEP), has already reached thousands of communities in both West and East Africa since 1991. Outcomes in governance, education, health, economic empowerment, and the environment are currently tracked, and Tostan has been particularly proud to play a significant role in the large-scale empowerment of women and girls and the community-led abandonment of harmful practices such as female genital cutting and child marriage. New models for building partnerships with communities after the CEP, and for sharing Tostan’s approach with a range of local and global audiences, have joined powerful additions to the ever-evolving CEP to create a unique and exciting strategic moment.

Position Overview:

In this exciting role, the CFO will develop and lead Tostan’s financial strategy, and ensure that strategies are implemented effectively and nimbly throughput the organization. In addition, s/he will serve as a key member of the organization’s Senior Leadership Team and partner with the Board of Directors. The CFO will work closely with and report to the CEO. S/he will manage a dedicated and growing team of professionals who attend to the day-to-day financial business of the organization, strengthen the organization’s financial health, management and forecasting, and to lead the development of effective systems, to allow the organization to manage its growth and increase its scale. The CFO will provide hands-on leadership to ensure sound financial management and efficient operations within the organization. This position is perfect for someone looking to work in an African-based organization, highly motivated by community led development.

Roles & Responsibilities:

Strategy & Financial Operations Oversight

Develop and lead the finance strategy and global financial operations, including management of assets and investments

Identify key strategic finance issues faced by IPA and develop a plan to address them, including key finance investments needed to provide state of the art research services and scalable programs

Make actionable recommendations to the CEO and the Senior Leadership team on overall strategy budget and financial operations and oversight

Participate in key decisions pertaining to operating model, strategic directions and operational execution, including the development of IPA direct and indirect cost structure

Lead the strategic and action planning for the Finance and Grants Teams, including the setting of milestones and targets to achieve the identified priorities

Executive Leadership

Serve as a member of the Senior Leadership Team and Officer of the Corporation, and regularly engage with the Audit and Finance Committee of the Tostan Board of Directors

With the rest of the Leadership team, work to continuously build understanding and support for Tostan’s core mission to foster effective collaboration across the organization

Together with the Senior Leadership Team, identify and address cross-functional organizational priorities and build appropriate organization-wide processes and systems

Represent Tostan to financial partners, including financial institutions, foundation executives, auditors, as well as Tostan partners.

Team Leadership

Lead and oversee multiple teams and provide mentorship and capacity development to staff

Review and establish the internal structure of the Finance department to ensure effective coordination and timely financial oversight

Financial Planning, Forecasting and Reporting

Develop and utilize forward-looking, predictive models and activity-based financial analyses to provide insight into the organization’s operations, business plans, and upcoming needs.

Oversee the organization’s budgetary planning and cost management in relation with strategic priorities, and the development of long- and short-range financial plans

Regularly assess organizational performance against the budget and strategy

Oversee the production of monthly, quarterly and annual reports at all organizational levels, including financial statements and cash flow projections for use by Executive and Board management

Financial Processes, Policies and Systems

Coordinate audits and proper filing of tax returns including IRS form 990 and similar forms

Revise financial oversight and financial accountability mechanisms throughout the organization

Lead the revision and documentation of clear financial policies and procedures at all organizational levels, and ensure that those are communicated and implemented throughout the organization

In coordination with Finance, Legal, HR, Operations and Country Offices, oversee the development and management of compliance protocols in line with Tostan’s growing and diversified pool of donors and stakeholders

Remain up to date on nonprofit finance and audit best practices and state and federal compliance regarding nonprofit financial operations

Identify the need for, and oversee the implementation of appropriate organization-wide systems that respond to

Tostan’s needs and make financial operations more efficient, while ensuring that they are used effectively • Oversee regular risk assessment processes including financial and non-financial considerations, in partnership with the CEO.

Administration teams including procurement, logistics and IT Number of Staff Managed: 20 Budget Managed: Tostan’s approved annual budget for 2017 was $9.6m. Tostan’s annual budget for 2018 is expected to be $8m and for 2019 $11m or higher is being sought.

Key Qualifications and Selection Criteria:

Education:

CPA highly desirable and MBA preferred

Characteristics:

Ability to lead capacity building efforts and effectively mentor key staff in a multi-cultural and multilingual environment

Passionate belief in and commitment to Tostan’s mission to empower African communities to bring about sustainable development and positive social transformation based on respect for human rights

Deep commitment to and first-hand experience with participatory communities or organizations

Shares Tostan’s values and has leadership experience bringing similar values to life in organizations and/or communities

Brings some unique and aligned gift(s) that contributes to Tostan’s long-term success

Skilful at communicating and bridging understanding to forward strategic priorities and fulfill Tostan mission and vision

Ability to work in a collaborative, co-creative team, bringing value to the team’s outcomes – enriching, respectful, beneficial

Language Proficiency:

Full Fluency in English and French are required. Knowledge of a local language in which Tostan works is welcomed.

Knowledge & Experience:

Experience in a senior financial-management role, partnering with executive staff, resulting in the development and implementation of creative financial management strategies

Proven experience with the financial operations of a complex international not for profit with a diverse funding mix and working in multiple countries in Africa 10+ years of experience in accounting and finance

Direct experience and deep knowledge of working with nonprofit accounting software systems

Knowledge and ability to design and develop accounting systems and procedures

Strong knowledge in financial modeling and forecasting

Knowledge of U.S. accounting standards for not for profit organizations (GAAP)

Knowledge of U.S. not for profit IRS regulations, reports, and best practices

Reports to:

Chief Executive Officer

Location:

The position is located in Thies, Senegal. The post will also require frequent travel to Dakar, Senegal, as well to Tostan’s country and/or regional offices in Tostan’s six countries of presence, occasionally.

How to Apply:

As part of their commitment to finding the highest-calibre candidates for this role, Tostan is working in collaboration with the recruitment service of Humentum, dedicated to advancing operational excellence for social good.